MOH recipient Ty Michael Carter began his military service in the US Marine Corps in 1998. He was stationed in Okinawa as an intelligence clerk. He was sent to Primary Marksmanship Instructor school in 1999. After 4 years and two training deployments, one to San Clemente and one to Egypt for Operation Bright Star, he was honorably discharged in 2002.

He decided that even with college going well, and a new baby on the way, he felt the pull of the Military. So he went back in 2008 to the US Army. And with a deployment to Nuristan Province in Afghanistan, Carter distinguished himself as a man of valor, earning the Medal of Honor.

Combat Outpost Keating- the Battle of Kamdesh

COP Keating has support from Outpost Frische, but it was separated by a rocky ridge that blocked their actual sight of the outpost. At 5:53 a.m. October 3, 2009, an interpreter notified the man who pulled overnight duty that 50-100 enemy fighters were poised to attack the outpost. Six minutes later, the firefight hit. It turned out that there were over 300 enemy fighters- and Outpost Keating was only the size of a company, and vastly outnumbered.

In six hours of continuous gunfire, with very little ammunition left, Carter and his team mate did everything in their power to save the outpost from being totally overrun. Two-thirds of the 53 coalition soldiers were killed in the battle. The official narrative of his actions is here.

“Specialist Ty M. Carter distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Scout with Bravo Troop, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on October 3, 2009.

On that morning, Specialist Carter and his comrades awakened to an attack of an estimated 300 enemy fighters occupying the high ground on all four sides of Combat Outpost Keating, employing concentrated fire from recoilless rifles, rocket propelled grenades, anti-aircraft machine guns, mortars and small arms fire.

Specialist Carter reinforced a forward battle position, ran twice through a 100 meter gauntlet of enemy fire to resupply ammunition and voluntarily remained there to defend the isolated position. Armed with only an M4 carbine rifle, Specialist Carter placed accurate, deadly fire on the enemy, beating back the assault force and preventing the position from being overrun, over the course of several hours.

With complete disregard for his own safety and in spite of his own wounds, he ran through a hail of enemy rocket propelled grenade and machine gun fire to rescue a critically wounded comrade who had been pinned down in an exposed position.

Specialist Carter rendered life extending first aid and carried the Soldier to cover. On his own initiative, Specialist Carter again maneuvered through enemy fire to check on a fallen Soldier and recovered the squad’s radio, which allowed them to coordinate their evacuation with fellow Soldiers.

With teammates providing covering fire, Specialist Carter assisted in moving the wounded Soldier 100 meters through withering enemy fire to the aid station and before returning to the fight.

Specialist Carter’s heroic actions and tactical skill were critical to the defense of Combat Outpost Keating, preventing the enemy from capturing the position and saving the lives of his fellow Soldiers. Specialist Ty M. Carter’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Bravo Troop, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and the United States Army.”

Staff Sergeant Carter left active duty in 2014. He was also honored as a Hero of Military Medicine Ambassador on May 8, 2017.

I'm a published author of 3 in-print creative nonfiction books: Dog Paw Chronicles- Life Journeys, Whispers of Heaven, and Bobby Convict - I've written numerous short stories in anthologies, blogs and editorials. I've been working at Uncle Sam's Misguided Children since 2013. I have two degrees in Criminal Justice and worked for over 31 years at a local police department. I am a patriotic American.